Kenmore Mercy Hospital
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News and announcements for Nursing Staff at Kenmore Mercy Hospital September/October 2017 Imagine being in a room with nearly 10,000 of the best nurses in the world. And, add to that the opportunity to represent your hospital while being recognized and applauded for by these remarkable nurses. For twenty of Kenmore Mercy Hospital’s nurses, this became a reality on October 11, 2017, in Houston’s George R. Brown Convention Center. The individuals who attended were proud and honored to represent our nurses and our hospital at the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s 2017 National Magnet Conference. We were only able to accomplish this through everyone’s commitment to excellence in nursing and to outstanding patient outcomes. At the conference we heard about best practices, innovation and research in nursing. Everyone brought back these great ideas to start enriching our nursing practice to an even higher level. As we continue our Magnet Journey with enthusiasm and hard work, remember we are nurses. We are accomplishing great things for our patients, our profession, and healthcare. Congratulations to all of you! Cheryl W. Hayes, MS, ANP, NEA-BC Vice President of Patient Care Services
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Nurses Attend 2017 Magnet Conference
Twenty nurses represented Kenmore Mercy Hospital on October 11-13, 2017 in Houston at the ANCC National Magnet Conference®, the largest nursing conference in the United States. With nearly 10,000 nurses from the best hospitals across the world present, the event served as both a celebration of accomplishment for newly designated Magnet organizations, like Kenmore Mercy, and a showcase of best nursing practices for the Magnet community. While in Houston the Kenmore Mercy Hospital nurses learned about innovative and exciting ways to increase both patient and associate engagement, enhance patient satisfaction, and improve associate retention. “We had lectures from inspirational speakers who have survived horrific tragedies because of the exceptional care and compassion from their nurses,” said Anne Hedges-Creighton, RN, BSN, MS, director of Perioperative Services. “We met teams from all over the world all striving to bring the best possible outcomes for their patients.” The conference also raised more than $100,000 for Houston hurricane relief, and in addition Kenmore Mercy’s team brought handmade blankets of comfort for the elderly who have lost so very much during this disaster.
Welcome To Our New Hires Since September Nicolle Bennard, NA - 2 East Nicole Blasko, RN - 2 East/2 South Theophania Buah, NA - 3 East Yanmei Chen, NA - 2 East Jessica Clark, RN - 2 East/2 South Molly Cook, RN - ED Morgan Crisco, RN - 2 West Kashana Day, NA - 2 East Kayli Giezycki, CST - OR Hannah Grecco, CST - OR Abigail Grieble, RN - ICU Holly Grimm, RN - 2 East Erica Homme, RN - 2 East/2 South Kelsey Kobza, RN - 2 West Danielle Krebs, NA - 3 East Lauren Mach, RN - OR Christine McDonald, RN - ICU Gabriela Niziaklek, RN - ED Alex Nikolai, NA - ED Ruth Nowakowski, RN - ED Ashley Page, RN - ICU Christina Pihl, CST - OR Mikayla Powell, RN - ED Cheryl Robinson, RN - ED Karen Santiago, NA - 2 East Katlynn Stewart, NA - 2 West Sarah Swanick, RN - 2 West Jessica Schweer, CST - OR Michele Tiburzi, RN - OR Tim Twarozek, RN - OR Ashley Tucker, RN - OR Emily Ward, NA - 2 West
Hospital Completes Successful Stroke Survey Kenmore Mercy Hospital successfully completed its Joint Commission Disease Specific Survey for Stroke, on October 17. The surveyor isrecommending stroke recertification. Some highlights of our program noted include our Magnet Recognition, our caring culture, our focus on the spiritual dimension of stroke care, our clinical publications, our palliative care program, our new EMS liaison position and our education and orientation specific to stroke related competencies. Thank you everyone who was involved in the survey, from the individuals who participated in the opening presentation, to those that were interviewed within the various departments, to those that worked behind the scenes to ensure that the survey went smoothly.
Peer Review Promotes Professionalism The purpose of peer review is to promote professionalism and best practice in nursing practice in a culture of safety. When you think about what peer review is - remember it is not so much punitive in nature – but rather educational and thought provoking. Nurses come to work to give the best care their patients deserve by using evidence based practice in a professional, educational and healthy work environment. This is the expectation of all who work in this profession. Unfortunately, there are times when incidents occur that fall short of the ideal practice we strive for. When that does happen, these incidents are reviewed by peer review to help determine if the occurrence is individual in nature – or a more generalized process problem that needs to be looked at and fixed. Nursing peer review will review the occurrence using a guide sheet to determine the causes and outcomes of the incident. A recommendation will be made by the committee and an outcome level assigned. The levels range from Level 0 (standard of care met) to Level 3 (major variation from standard of care). It will be determined at that time if it is system wide (policy driven) or individualized (isolated to one person). If you are reviewed by the committee, you will receive a letter from them through your manager who will go over the event with you and any necessary follow-up. Please feel free to talk to anyone on the Peer Review Committee about questions you have on how to make a referral to the committee or even just to find out more of what it is all about. We are looking for members who would like to commit to improving our nursing practice and patient outcomes through peer review. Call Kristen Parisi, RN, BSN, CCRN, for more information.
Kelsey Kobza, Nicole Blasko, and Nicolle Bennard.
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OR Team Working to Ensure Patient Readiness
Congratulations!
The Perioperative team at Kenmore Mercy identified a patient safety concern from the Culture of Safety survey we all took earlier this year.
Desiree Evaldi, CST, was awarded Kenmore Mercy’s Outstanding Surgical Technologist for 2017.
It was identified that the patients coming to the Operating room from our inpatient units were not ready for surgery upon arrival. Using a interdisciplinary approach and the Six Sigma format for process improvement the team completed a charter for process improvement. Data was collected on patients that came to the Operating Room from the inpatient units for 60 days. This data was analyzed and a plan for improvement was developed. The entire Kenmore Mercy nursing team was educated in the month of September about the elements of the perioperative/pre-procedure checklist and the significance of each item on the list, along with Kenmore Mercy Hospital ‘s policy and procedure. The team started recollecting data for 60 days in October to show anticipated improvements with patient readiness. “The staff nurses have been very positive during education rounding and seemed very engaged in the project” said Ellen Colan, RN, BSN, senior clinical advisor, Perioperative Services. Learn more about the checklist and this exciting patient safety initiative at our Associate Forums.
Sue McClure, RN, BSN, senior clinical advisor, Emergency Department, achieved her completed the rgency Nurse (CEN) certification. This certification is specific to emergency nursing and measures the attainment of a defined body of nursing knowledge pertinent to that specialty.
McClure
Amanda Kowalski, RN, was named Emergency Nurse of Excellence for 2017. Ellen Swan, BSN, RN, CNML, 2 West nurse manager, presented on safe patient handling with a “Move with Care” program poster at the Nursing Management Congress 2017 in Las Vegas in October. She was awarded Certificate of Excellence Poster Award Winner - Runner Up.
Swan
Ellen showcased the long term decrease of associate injuries and lost work days due to patient handling as a result of the “Move with Care” Program initiatives she helped implement.
Come On Down!
Cheryl W. Hayes, MS, ANP, NEA-BC vice president of patient care services was honored with the Nonprofit Leadership Award from Buffalo Business First at its annual Women of Influence Award Luncheon. The award honors women who display high energy and skill in a leadership role at a nonprofit institution or organization.
Join us in the Community Room for one of the remaining sessions.
Jessica Schulte, RN, Kelly Ford, RN, Kayla Limardi, RN, and Christine Logan, RN, achieved the credential of Certified MedicalSurgical Registered Nurse.
You’re the next contestant at our Fall 2017 Associate Forum
Monday, October 30 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday October 31 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Schulte
Limardi
Teresa Viverette, NA, is our third quarter Love Award winner. She was nominated for her willingness to help and encourage our patients. She is a nursing assistant on the 2 East/2 South Patient Care Unit.
Logan
Viverette
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Nursing Shared Governance Corner October Highlights from Day and Night Shared Governance Meetings: Nursing Informatics • Kenmore Mercy’s nurses have embraced Tiger Texting as an effective communication tool with physicians and ancillary associates. Added benefits have included decrease in noise and confusion at the nurse station. Please continue to collaborate and encourage others to use the system. • KEY IT security reminder - nursing staff have the Tiger Text App on their personal phones since they are not considered a secure environment for patient information. • Kenmore Mercy IT rounded on each nursing unit to explore and confirm that Soft ID printers are failing because they are not being plugged into charge. Shared Governance recommended that each unit assign this task to the same person that docks the glucometer every night. Maria Richardson will round on each unit to reinforce information so that the printers are available for patient care.
Nursing Practice • It was decided that the yellow IV sheets will be discontinued. They are used inconsistently and orders should be checked in Soarian. • Nursing received approval from Kenmore Mercy medical executive board to discontinue use of glucose sheets. • Glucometers must be docked for the information to cross over to Soarian. • Please sign up in Netlearning and work with your manager to schedule time for the RN Knowledge Days in the Community Room. - November 27, 2017: 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. - November 28, 2017: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. - November 29, 2017: 7 a.m. 11 a.m. and noon - 4 p.m. - December 4, 2017: 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. - December 6, 2017: 8 a.m. - noon - December 11, 2017: 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.
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2 West Leads Way in Noise Reduction The 2 West patient care unit recently launched their “Reduction of Noise” pilot. This involved adjusting the audible alarms of the unit’s duty stations located in the storage and nourishment areas. From now on, the only audible alarms through the duty stations are: • Code 10 • Bathroom assist • Staff assist • Chair and bed alarms So far, this has significantly decreased the level of noise near patient rooms. “We expect the decrease noise level to promote rest while healing,” said Heather Telford, MS, RN, CEN, director of Nursing. The 2 West nurse calls remain at Level 10 for all calls and Level 5 on the nurse calls when the ‘Night Tone’ is activated. This will continue to be heard at the nursing station and in the hallways. The 2 West staff is currently assessing patient safety, associate and patient feedback to evaluate their work environment and to prepare other nursing units to make the same changes.
Highlights from Coordinating Council in September: Unit Based Projects/ New Nursing Knowledge & Innovation
2 East/2 South • The “Dress for Success” project promotes patients getting dressed on Post Op Day 2 • Pain medications are being given around the clock instead of PRN to better manage pain MRU • “The “word cloud” project elicits patient family stories has been successful • Nursing and rehabilitation continue to collaborate accomplish their team objectives 2 West • “Quiet at Night” activities continue with careful and coordinated nursing assignments that decrease steps and excessive activity • They are evaluating/refining the use of discharge folders to recommend implementation in all inpatients units 3 East • The “professionalism project” promotes a healthy work environment using evidence based journal articles to guide peer to peer conflict activities ICU • The nurses are working on and collecting data for a research project: ICU Readmissions. ED • A multidisciplinary process team is in place to focus all on patient and associate satisfaction by addressing patient throughput, communication and stress • The team is piloting a disposition nursing assignment to facilitate admissions and discharges Peri-Op • “Patient Ready for Surgery” is a collaborative project with other nursing units • GI nurses continue to promote their professional nursing practice by cross training to selected Peri-op areas • PACU is exploring music therapy as a way to help control pain and working with the University of Buffalo to formulate a nursing research project. • There is a collaborative workgroup with 2 East/2 South discussing timely and safe patient transport & hand off communication Pulmonary Rehab • Healthy Work Environment Initiatives including new patient equipment, better patient and visitor WiFi • Nurses collaborating with Palliative Care Committee outreach to promote service to patients and families. Palliative Care information will be added to the new patient orientation to program.